CHAP. III.] ST. JOHN OF JERUSALEM. • 173

almost immediately reinforced by a group of pri-vate individuals, is likewise true; so that a multi-tude signalized themselves in the same way. Ofthe few deeds extant still, and gathered togetherby an Italian gentleman, that by Godfrey is fol-lowed close by Brisset and Roberts in London;and others in Sicily, the south of France, and thenorth of Prussia, and Hungary, and Germany.This rapidity would be altogether incredible, hadGerard not been a Norman prince . 1 Flanders andHainaut were then included in Normandy, as theyhad been in the old Roman Neustria; although soonto be otherwise. In later crusades, as many coloursas nations; every nation had its own. But in thefirst crusade, the French wore the red cross, andall other Latins the white or Norman, even theFlemings; and these, who took the green cross inevery succeeding crusade, and no fewGermans, then,as well as many others, were erected into a divisionwhich was called the Norman party, who, by thatmeans, could balance France itself, and formed a fullhalf of the crusading warriors. Geographical distinc-tionsbeingthen little attended to as transitory,but theties of blood and alliances were stabler. Not merelyNeustria, but all in every royal house in Europe

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1 P. A. Paoli : 456-7.